Topic: History

Top galleries, list articles, quizzes

Bestselling books the week of 5/31/12, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.
John F. Kennedy: 15 quotes on his birthday

John F. Kennedy was born on May 29th, 1917. To mark what would have been his 95th birthday, here are 15 memorable JFK quotes.
Spurs and Thunder star in NBA’s Western Conference Finals: 10 extra dimensions

The clash of the Spurs and Thunder in the NBA’s Western Conference finals may fly a bit under the national radar when it opens Sunday. Here are 10 factors that make this showdown intriguing.
From Willie Horton to windsurfing: Five top political attack ads

Political attacks ads: love 'em or hate 'em, but they’re here to stay, and this election year stands to be a watershed moment in their use. Here's a look at what are considered to be some of the most memorable and effective attack ads utilized over the years.
Bob Moog: 6 artists influenced by his work

On what would have been Moog's 78th birthday, here are 6 musicians whose work was influenced by his groundbreaking technologies.

All Content

Space pioneer John Glenn honored 50 years after historic flight

Hundreds of NASA workers jammed a space center auditorium to mark the 50th anniversary of John Glenn's historic flight, to see and hear the first American to circle the Earth.
Mardi Gras: a guide to five of the biggest New Orleans parades

Parades known as krewes form the backbones of the Mardi Gras season in New Orleans. Here are five of the biggest ones.
John Glenn reflects on NASA's space legacy 50 years after first orbit

On Feb. 20, 1962, Glenn piloted NASA's Mercury capsule, known as Friendship 7, three times around Earth, matching the groundbreaking achievement of the rival Soviet Union, which launched cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit 10 months earlier.
In Pictures: It's Mardi Gras time all over the world!
Chapter & Verse
Portugal plays each side against the other in World War II

Neill Lochery's new book "Lisbon" chronicles Portugal's pivotal role in World War II.
Top Picks: Oscar-nominated shorts, Paul McCartney's new album, and more

A photography series shows the artist behind the famous image, Chip Taylor & the Grandkids create a charming album for all ages, 'American Experience' profiles Clinton, and more top picks.
8 ways to find common ground

Gridlock plagues Washington. Polarizing soundbytes get constant play in the 24/7 news cycle. The culture wars rage on. But these Monitor op-ed writers suggest there’s more common ground than meets the eye. Here are eight powerful perspectives on the possibilities for meeting in the middle.
Chapter & Verse
Robert Harris's "The Fear Index" makes a thriller out of a man sitting at a computer

Robert Harris, the author of 'The Ghost,' discusses his new financial page-turner "The Fear Index" and his predilection for writing about ancient Rome.
Vox News
Abraham Lincoln, vampire hunter? What if it were true? (+video)

In the new movie, 'Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter,' Honest Abe learns that vampires are behind slavery. He gets himself elected president and fights the Civil War to end the fang-toothed scourge.
Black History Month: Five major events and figures

Black History Month is the annual celebration of the struggles, achievements and overall contribution African-Americans have made to the US.
Getting to know Xi: White House prepares to meet China's new man

President Obama and Xi Jinping, China's likely next president, meet today at the White House. Many are hoping for a good rapport that will bolster a strained US-China relationship.
Global News Blog
Good Reads: China's next leader comes to Washington, as US enters a funk

Lots of talk of America's decline but few suggested solutions as Chinese vice president Xi Jinping visits Washington this week.
US, China face 'trust deficit' as China's heir apparent visits

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, China's likely leader for the next decade, will meet President Obama this week, as well as make trips to Iowa and California.
Decoder Wire
Why Abraham Lincoln's birthday isn't a federal holiday

President's Day celebrates Abraham Lincoln, right? Nope. There is no 'President's Day.' It's actually legally known only as 'Washington's Birthday,' leaving Old Abe out the cold. 
Abraham Lincoln: 15 favorite quotes on his birthday

February 12th marks the 203rd birthday of Abraham Lincoln. Here are some favorite Lincoln quotes.
All Aztecs went to school? A lesson for Mexico.

An unearthed school shows that universal education got an early start in Mexico. Today, the system lags with the indigenous receiving less schooling than the rest of the population.
FDR and Chief Justice Hughes

The overlooked story of the hardworking justice who stood up to one of America's most popular presidents – and won a victory for posterity.
Ancient Antarctic lake thought to harbor prehistoric life, Hitler clones

In its reporting on the efforts of a Russian drilling team to reach a subglacial lake in Antarctica, Russian state media has revived an old conjecture about a secret Nazi cloning facility on the southern continent.
Da Vinci’s Ghost

Da Vinci's Vitruvian Man has been called the world's most famous drawing. But what does it mean?
Laura Ingalls Wilder: 10 quotes on her birthday

10 quotes from 'Little House on the Prairie' author Laura Ingalls Wilder on her 145th birthday.
Charles Dickens: His 10 most memorable characters

To celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, here is a tribute to 10 of his most unforgettable characters.
Paper Economy
Food stamp use continues to rise

 Household participation in the federal food stamp program increased 5.82 percent on a year-over-year basis, while household participation increased 7.46 percent.
Ronald Reagan: 10 quotes on his birthday

To honor what would have been his 101st birthday on Feb. 6, 2012, here are 10 quotes from former President Ronald Reagan.
Editor's Blog
Reinvention: The rewards of trying again

First-time wonders deserve our awe and applause. But almost every good thing in life -- from careers to ideas, products to poetry -- is more reinvention than invention.
The Monitor's 2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame picks

The Christian Science Monitor has taken a hard look at the 17 nominees for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and picked seven men who would get our vote.